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What Matters More – Derek Webb (2009, Stockholm Syndrome)

Today’s post marks the beginning of a new series (throughout the month of May) for Truth In Tunes entitled: Hot Topic Songs. The goal will be to explore music that covers important social/spiritual issues of today. And our first entry comes out of the gate firing on all cylinders – even addressing two hot topics at once: cursing & homosexuality.

A brief reintroduction of the artist – Derek Webb (who I’ve blogged about before) is a pioneer among Christian artists today. He continues his involvement in the popular band, Caedmon’s Call. His work with Noisetrade is also worth mentioning, as it serves as one of the best ways for artists and listeners to connect directly and appropriately. He has been writing music for a long time, including solo projects for the last decade.

“Stockholm Syndrome” was indeed a controversial album, both in content and style. Webb explored a more techno-based sound, which was a departure from his folk music orientation. But the real “Daniel” moment came when he included a song on the album that was so polarizing, the record label took it off the album.

The song includes what I would consider some mild curse words, so use your own discretion as you read/listen to “What Matters More” by Derek Webb:

you say you always treat people like you’d like to be i guess you love being hated for your sexuality you love when people put words in your mouth about what you believe make you sound like a freak

‘cause if you really believed what you say you believe you wouldn’t be so damned reckless with the words you speak you wouldn’t silently consent when the liars speak denying all the dying of the remedy

tell me, brother what matters more to you tell me, sister what matters more to you

if i can see what’s in your heart by what comes out of your mouth then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it’s about yeah it looks like being hated for all the wrong things like chasing the wind while the pendulum swings

‘cause we can talk and debate till we’re blue in the face about the language and tradition that he’s coming to save and meanwhile we sit just like we don’t give a shit about fifty thousand people who are dying today

There is much to say here about this song and the topic of homosexuality, so please bear with me. First, about Derek Webb and the song, here is a helpful interview that he did explaining the song and the album. It would be important to consider his own words before making any judgments. The bottom line is that Webb felt strongly about saying something to the Christian community about how many of us have been treating the gay/lesbian community in recent times. The song is a challenge to ask ourselves what we value more: being right or being Christ-like? As Webb has stated many times, he is not commenting on the morality/theology of the issue of homosexuality, but rather he is expressing his frustration with the lack of compassion and love that homosexual people have received from the Christian community.

The response to his song from the Christian world proved his perception on the matter. The blogosphere ripped him for using curse words in a “Christian” song. Christian leaders criticized him for not clearly stating the biblical stance on homosexuality being a sin. Meanwhile, the last verse of “What Matters More” proves itself over and over again by the general response the Christian world gave to Webb’s controversial tune.

Here we are, only three or four years later, and the state of affairs in Christianity (particularly in America) as it regards homosexuality has only gotten worse. One of our most prominent preachers, Rick Warren, has gently but clearly taken a stand against homosexuality. Recently, when his mentally-ill son committed suicide, some members of the gay-lesbian and liberal communities lashed out against Warren with cruel criticism and heartless words amidst his time of grief and loss.

When our country passes new laws giving rights to gays, the social media outlets are flooded with Christian one-liners condemning homosexuality and people declaring that our nation is heading to hell. Not once, have I read a Christian tweet or status offer any sort of balanced perspective on the issues with a tone of kindness and respect.

Sports stars are starting to reveal their gay status publicly and when one sports analyst simply stated the balanced, appropriate Christian response to homosexuality he was labeled as intolerant and ESPN was forced to apologize for him.

Are these examples of how evil the world is and how Christians are hated because we represent Christ and truth? That is a difficult question to answer. In one sense, the Bible says it will be this way for true believers, but I do not feel that this represents the whole story of what we are seeing today. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the main reason why Christians who stand against homosexuality in America are hated so much is because we hated homosexuals first. Maybe Rick Warren and ESPN analyst Chris Broussard aren’t personally represented in that statement, but the general Christian community certainly is and all of us have caught the fury of the world’s outcry against our lack of love.

Back to our song of the week: here is an artist expressing his frustration with his brothers and sisters in Christ for not loving sinners better and here we are, simply missing the message and continuing to draw battle lines with a dying world – as if the time to love like Christ is over and Armageddon is upon us. The simple truth is we need to ask ourselves whether or not each of us is balancing the volume of our Christian messages of truth, love, grace and holiness. Some voices have been too loud for too long, while other voices have only been whispers at best.

There is a big difference between denying biblical truth about sexual sins and reaching out to sinners with the grace of God without condemning them first. It is NOT loving to just tell someone he/she is broken and condemned while we keep our distance, never learning what it is like to step into their shoes and feel their struggles.

So, did Derek Webb cross the line with this tune? If Derek Webb were an established local church, then yah, perhaps he did. But Webb is just a person, an artist, and one brother in Christ speaking out to the rest of us with a tone that, frankly, we needed to hear. The real question is whether or not you and I listen to this song and become more bothered by our own lack of compassion to homosexuals rather than the song itself. Do we care more about him saying “shit” in a song or about our own heart attitude towards that gay coworker, neighbor and relative?

The real question for all of us is: what matters more? Who did Jesus condemn and yell at? Religious leaders. Who did Jesus eat with, teach, heal and love into the truth of His Gospel? Sinners, of which we, brothers and sisters, are foremost – even now.

Conclusion: Yes, of course, the Bible clearly teaches that homosexuality, along with any other sexual sin, is wrong. Anyone who says that the Bible teaches differently is simply missing the truth. And, yes, it’s OK for Christians to make absolute statements like that, because it is our core doctrine that the Bible is the only source of ultimate truth and wisdom. HOWEVER, (please, please listen to this part) the WHOLE truth goes on to embrace the love and grace of Jesus who calls us to reach out to all people in relationship and mercy.

I am grateful to Webb for shaking me up in my own complacency and insensitivity towards gay-lesbian people and I pray that my brothers and sisters will also be convicted to adjust the volume of our message to better reflect the harmony of holiness and grace.

We have been too harsh for too long and it is time to ask ourselves: What matters more?